Wisconsin State Fair Park

Location

Operational date

Project

Total project cost

$306,000

Incentive

$100,000 from We Energies
$50,000 from Focus on Energy
$128,400 from Conserve Wisconsin

Estimated savings achieved

$4,000 per year in electricity savings

Success

With more than 850,000 visitors a year to the 10-day run of the Wisconsin State Fair and more than two million visitors to the park annually, the fair’s commitment to renewable energy is highly visible.

Sky Glider riders get a good view of the 28-kW solar panels on the roof of the Wisconsin Products Pavilion, and the size of the dual-axis tracker on the main thoroughfare near the grandstand also attracts attention. The large flat-screen TV in the Wisconsin Products Pavilion displays information about the fair’s solar system and serves to educate those waiting in line for a grilled cheese sandwich about renewable energy.

“Our goal is to promote renewable energy initiatives,” said Susan Crane, head of the Wisconsin State Fair Board. “This project also will conserve resources and improve the energy and environmental performance of Wisconsin State Fair Park by reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere by more than 31 tons annually, as well as creating over 36,000 kilowatt hours of electricity.”